ACT

ACT. The ACT is a standardized test used for undergraduate college admissions in the United States. Developed and administered by the ACT (nonprofit organization), it is a curriculum-based achievement exam designed to assess a student's readiness for college-level work. The test is accepted by all four-year colleges and universities in the U.S., alongside its primary competitor, the SAT.

Overview

The ACT was first introduced in 1959 by Everett Franklin Lindquist, an education professor at the University of Iowa, as a competitor to the SAT. It was created to more directly measure skills taught in high school curricula, contrasting with the SAT's original focus on innate aptitude. The test is administered multiple times per year at testing centers across the United States and internationally. Major changes to the exam have occurred over the decades, including the introduction of an optional writing section in 2005 and a significant redesign in 2015 to align more closely with Common Core and other college readiness benchmarks. Key administrators of the test include the ACT (nonprofit organization) and its subsidiary, ACT, Inc..

Structure and Content

The ACT consists of four mandatory multiple-choice sections: English, mathematics, reading, and science. The English section tests grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, and rhetorical skills over 75 questions. The mathematics section covers pre-algebra, elementary algebra, intermediate algebra, coordinate geometry, plane geometry, and trigonometry through 60 questions, permitting the use of an approved calculator. The reading section measures comprehension with four prose passages, typically one each from fiction, social science, humanities, and natural science. The science section assesses interpretation, analysis, evaluation, reasoning, and problem-solving skills using data representations, research summaries, and conflicting viewpoints from fields like biology, chemistry, physics, and Earth science. An optional 40-minute writing test, which presents a complex issue and asks for an essay, is also offered.

Scoring

Each of the four multiple-choice sections is scored on a scale of 1 to 36. These four scores are then averaged to produce a composite score, also on a 1–36 scale, which is the primary score reported to colleges. The optional writing test is scored separately on a scale of 2 to 12 and does not affect the composite score. Students also receive detailed subscores in specific areas, such as Usage/Mechanics and Rhetorical Skills for English, which range from 1 to 18. All scores are reported to institutions like the University of California and Harvard University, and students can select which score reports to send. The test is equated to account for slight variations in difficulty across different administrations, ensuring score consistency.

Use in College Admissions

The ACT is a critical component of undergraduate admissions for thousands of institutions, including the Ivy League, Stanford University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Admissions officers use the composite score, alongside high school GPA, letters of recommendation, and extracurricular activities, to assess applicant readiness. In recent years, many colleges have adopted test-optional or test-blind policies, reducing the requirement for scores from exams like the ACT or SAT. However, scores remain a significant factor for scholarships, such as the National Merit Scholarship Program, and for placement into freshman-level courses at universities like the University of Michigan.

Preparation and Test-Taking Strategies

Preparation for the ACT often involves studying official guides from the ACT (nonprofit organization), taking practice tests, and enrolling in courses from companies like The Princeton Review or Kaplan, Inc.. Effective strategies include familiarization with the test format, practicing time management, and learning to quickly identify question types. For the mathematics section, mastery of formulas and efficient calculator use for problems involving algebra or geometry is advised. For reading and science, students are taught to skim passages and focus on interpreting graphs and data. Many high schools, such as those in the Chicago Public Schools district, also integrate test preparation into their curricula. Ultimately, performance can be influenced by factors like familiarity with the testing environment at locations like the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Category:Standardized tests in the United States Category:University and college admission tests